Apparatus and methods for lighting tobacco-containing articles

ABSTRACT

Apparatus and methods are provided for lighting a tobacco-containing article. The tobacco-containing article includes a tobacco-containing element having an electrically conductive end portion and the apparatus for lighting a tobacco-containing article having a conductive tip, includes an electrical power source having a positive electrode and a negative electrode, wherein the positive electrode and the negative electrode are adapted to complete a circuit upon contact with the conductive tip of the tobacco-containing article so as to light the tobacco-containing article.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to tobacco products and packagesand lighters and more specifically to cigarette and cigar products,packages and lighters.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Tobacco product smokers such as cigarette smokers typically require apack of cigarettes as well as a separate gas lighter or box of matchesin order to light a cigarette. Smokers often find themselves withoutmatches or with an empty lighter. They then typically ask someone elsefor a light or request a passer-by to assist them with the lighting oftheir cigarettes.

Various attempts have been made to overcome the aforementionedinconveniences. These attempts are exemplified by the following U.S.patents, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,976,194 to Loredo, describes a combined cigarette packand disposable lighter.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,230,224 to Weeks, describes a cigarette and lightercase.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,267,924 to Tata, describes a cigarette container andlighter combination.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,234 to Rutschke, describes a cigarette packageclosure.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,281,761 and 4,385,689 to Olazabal, describe lighterapparatus for use with cigarette packages or cases therefor.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,704 to Chuang, which is incorporated herein byreference, describes a cigarette box with self-lighting device andlighter.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,517,994 to Endelson, describes a flat cigarette lighter.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,852,729 to Conte, describes a cigarette-lighter holder.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,878,875 to Leong, describes a cigarette boxincorporating a match drawer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of some aspects of the present invention to provideapparatus and methods for easy and convenient lighting of tobaccoproducts.

It is a further object of some aspects of the present invention toprovide improved products and methods for storage and lighting oftobacco products. Tobacco products include, but are not limited tocigarettes, cigars and cigarillos.

In preferred embodiments of the present invention, there is provided acontainer for housing at least one tobacco product and a lighter on thecontainer for lighting the at least one tobacco product.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention, tobacco-containing article including an elongatetobacco-containing element having an electrically conductive endportion.

Also, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a tobacco-containing article, wherein theelectrically conductive end portion includes at least one metallicelement.

Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a tobacco-containing article, wherein theat least one metallic element includes metallic fibers.

Further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided a tobacco-containing article wherein themetallic fibers are mixed with tobacco.

There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodimentof the present invention, apparatus for lighting a tobacco-containingarticle having a conductive tip, including an electrical power sourcehaving a positive electrode and a negative electrode, wherein thepositive electrode and a negative electrode are adapted to complete acircuit upon contact with the conductive tip of the tobacco-containingarticle so as to light the tobacco-containing article.

Also, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, apparatus is provided wherein the electrical power sourceincludes a battery.

Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, apparatus is provided, further including a safety coverremovably mounted over the positive electrode and the negativeelectrode.

Further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided apparatus, further including a cigarettecontainer onto an outer surface of which the electrical power source ismounted, the cigarette container containing cigarettes having conductivetips.

Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided apparatus wherein the electrical powersource is mounted onto a housing of a mobile communicator.

Yet further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided apparatus, wherein the positive andnegative electrodes are located on an external surface of the mobilecommunicator.

There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodimentof the present invention apparatus for lighting a tobacco-containingarticle, including:

-   -   an electrical power source having positive and negative        electrodes, and    -   a heating element slidably mounted with respect to the positive        and negative electrodes for being selectably brought into        operative engagement therewith for receiving power from the        power source, thereby to be heated sufficiently to light the        tobacco-containing article.

Also, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided apparatus, further including a cigarettecontainer onto an outer surface of which the electrical power source ismounted.

Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention, there is provided apparatus, further including a mobilecommunicator onto an outer surface of which the electrical power sourceis mounted.

There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodimentof the present invention a method for lighting a tobacco-containingarticle having an electrically conductive tip, the method includingcontacting the tip of the tobacco-containing article with electrodes ofan electrical power source so as to close a circuit through the tip,thereby heating the tip sufficiently to light the tobacco-containingarticle.

There is thus provided in accordance with another preferred embodimentof the present invention a method for lighting a tobacco-containingarticle, including:

-   -   slidably positioning an electrical resistance heating element        into operative engagement with electrodes of an electrical power        source, thereby to heat the electrical heating element        sufficiently so as to light the tobacco-containing article, and    -   bringing the tip of the tobacco-containing article into contact        with the electrical heating element so as to light the        tobacco-containing article.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be more fully understood from the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, takentogether with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a simplified pictorial illustration of a tobacco productcontainer and electrical lighter combination together with aconductive-tipped tobacco-containing article, both constructed andoperative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of an electrical lighter mounted on the outsideof a mobile communicator, such as a mobile telephone; and

FIGS. 3A and 3B are simplified illustrations of an alternativeelectrical lighter useful in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which is a simplified pictorialillustration of a cigarette container 10, formed with an externalelectrical cigarette lighter 12 which is particularly adapted forlighting conductive-tipped tobacco-containing articles, such ascigarettes 14.

Container 10 may be of any suitable construction and lighter 12 may beintegrally formed therewith or mounted therein or thereon. In theillustrated embodiment, electrical lighter 12 is preferably affixed toan outside edge 16 of container 10, as by adhesive. Alternatively, anyother suitable removable or non-removable attachment mechanism may beemployed.

Electrical lighter 12 preferably comprises a battery 18 which isprovided with or otherwise connected to positive and negative electrodes20 and 22, which are sized and mutually spaced so as to besimultaneously contacted by an electrically conductive tip 24 of acigarette 14, thereby to close an electrical circuit through theconductive tip.

Preferably, the battery has a thickness that does not exceed 1 mm.Suitable batteries are commercially available from such as Power PaperLtd., of Petach Tikva, Israel and from Varta Microbattery GmbH ofEllwangen Germany.

A removable safety cover 26 is preferably provided for coveringelectrodes 20 and 22 when not in use.

The tobacco-containing article is typically a cigarette but mayalternatively be a cigar, cigarillo or any other suitabletobacco-containing article.

Cigarette 14 preferably includes tip 20 formed of steel wool 28 or anyother suitable electrically conductive fiber and optionally alsocontaining tobacco and a body portion 30 containing conventionaltobacco. A filter 32 may be provided.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which shows an electrical lighter 40 ofthe type described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1, mounted onto anouter surface of a housing 42 of a mobile communicator, here a cellulartelephone 44. Lighter 40 is capable of lighting conductive-tippedcigarettes 46, of the type described hereinabove with reference to FIG.1.

Reference is made to FIGS. 3A and 3B, which illustrate an alternativetype of electrical lighter, which is suitable for use in the embodimentsof FIGS. 1 and 2, but does not require that a tobacco article have aconductive tip in order to be lighted thereby.

As seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, a battery 48 is provided with or otherwiseconnected to positive and negative electrodes 50 and 52. An electricalresistance heating element 54 is slidably mounted for selectablepositioning in electrical contact cross electrodes 50 and 52, thereby tocause an electrical current to pass through heating element 54 forheating thereof to a temperature sufficient to light a conventionalcigarette or other conventional tobacco-containing product.

FIG. 3A shows the electrical heating element 54 disposed out ofengagement with electrodes 50 and 52, while FIG. 3B shows the electricalheating element 54 disposed in operative engagement with electrodes 50and 52, thereby producing heating of element 54 to a temperaturesufficient to light a cigarette. A spring 56 may be provided forretaining the electrical heating element in a non-heating positionrelative to electrodes 50 and 52.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the presentinvention is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. Rather, the scope of the present inventionincludes both combinations and subcombinations of the various featuresdescribed hereinabove, as well as variations and modifications thereofthat are not in the prior art, which would occur to persons skilled inthe art upon reading the foregoing description.

1. A tobacco-containing article comprising an elongatetobacco-containing element having an electrically conductive endportion.
 2. A tobacco-containing article according to claim 1, whereinsaid electrically conductive end portion comprises at least one metallicelement.
 3. A tobacco-containing article according to claim 2, whereinsaid at least one metallic element comprises metallic fibers.
 4. Atobacco-containing article according to claim 3, wherein said metallicfibers are mixed with tobacco.
 5. Apparatus for lighting atobacco-containing article having a conductive tip, comprising anelectrical power source having a positive electrode and a negativeelectrode, wherein said positive electrode and said negative electrodeare adapted to complete a circuit upon contact with said conductive tipof said tobacco-containing article so as to light saidtobacco-containing article.
 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, whereinsaid electrical power source comprises a battery.
 7. Apparatus accordingto claim 5, further comprising a safety cover removably mounted oversaid positive electrode and said negative electrode.
 8. Apparatusaccording to claim 5, further comprising a cigarette container onto anouter surface of which said electrical power source is mounted, saidcigarette container containing cigarettes having conductive tips. 9.Apparatus according to claim 5 and wherein said electrical power sourceis mounted onto a housing of a mobile communicator.
 10. Apparatusaccording to claim 9, wherein said positive and negative electrodes arelocated on an external surface of said mobile communicator. 11.Apparatus for lighting a tobacco-containing article, comprising: anelectrical power source having positive and negative electrodes; and aheating element slidably mounted with respect to said positive andnegative electrodes for being selectably brought into operativeengagement therewith for receiving power from said power source, therebyto be heated sufficiently to light said tobacco-containing article. 12.Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a cigarettecontainer onto an outer surface of which said electrical power source ismounted.
 13. Apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising amobile communicator onto an outer surface of which said electrical powersource is mounted.
 14. A method for lighting a tobacco-containingarticle having an electrically conductive tip, the method comprisingcontacting said tip of said tobacco-containing article with electrodesof an electrical power source so as to close a circuit through said tip,thereby heating said tip sufficiently to light said tobacco-containingarticle.
 15. A method for lighting a tobacco-containing article,comprising: slidably positioning an electrical resistance heatingelement into operative engagement with electrodes of an electrical powersource, thereby to heat said electrical heating element sufficiently soas to light said tobacco-containing article; and bringing said tip ofsaid tobacco-containing article into contact with said electricalheating element so as to light said tobacco-containing article.